Tennis: Jamie Murray gets doubles win in Thailand

Jamie Murray: Win pleased his brother. Picture: Getty

EVE FODENS

Britain’s Jamie Murray teamed up with Australia’s John Peers to win the men’s doubles final at the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday and, in the process, provided his brother Andy with the perfect pick-me-up as he continues his recovery from injury.

Murray and Peers, the third seeds, needed just 71 minutes to get the better of fourth-seeded duo Tomasz Bednarek and Johan Brunstrom in a 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 triumph.

The victory was the third for Murray and Peers since they paired up at the start of this year, following on from titles in Houston and Gstaad.

The younger Murray, who is convalescing from back surgery he underwent at the beginning of last week and is unlikely to play again this year, added: “Made me feel better.”

Meanwhile, Laura Robson beat a top-50 player for the first time since her stunning Wimbledon run as the teenager overcame Klara Zakopalova in the first round of the China Open in Beijing.

After a tight opening two sets Robson stormed home to win 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-1 against the world No 33 from the Czech Republic in just over two hours.

The 19-year-old claimed the British No 1 status in China 12 months ago, and has gone from strength to strength since, highlighted by her performance at Wimbledon.

Robson memorably beat tenth seed Maria Kirilenko on her way to the fourth round in south-west London and was a quarter-finalist in Guanghzou a fortnight ago as she has risen to 38 in the world rankings.

After holding her nerve in the first-set tie-break, Robson, who claimed four breaks of serve in the match, slipped up in the second to send the game to a deciding set. Robson was not to be denied, however, as she sealed victory to book a second-round meeting with seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber.

Robson reached the second round in Beijing last year where she was beaten by Lourdes Dominguez Lino, the player she beat in the first round of last month’s US Open.

World No 1 Serena Williams coasted into the second round in Beijing with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Elena Vesnina.

In her first match since winning the US Open last month, Williams dominated behind her first serve to book a meeting with former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone.

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska fought back from losing the first set to beat Switzerland’s Stephanie Voegele 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours.

Radwanska was broken early in the deciding set before again displaying her battling qualities. “The first match is always tricky, especially because each week we have different conditions, different courts and different balls,” the 2011 champion said.

“I needed this match just to feel the rhythm. It could have gone either way – I’m just happy I could come back and win the last couple of points.”

American Madison Keys set up a meeting with Radwanska next as she beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-3.

Rafael Nadal can usurp Novak Djokovic as world No 1 with victory in the men’s event in Beijing this week.

Nadal, 27, need only reach the final if the Serb does not win to regain the top spot he last held in July 2011.

The Spaniard beat 26-year-old Djokovic in this month’s US Open final. “It will be very tough to become number one,” said Nadal. “But, if I am still playing the same way I did the last couple of months, I hope to have my chance here or in the next few weeks.”